Upcoming concert season to bring new acts to wider audiences

August 26, 2013

Child prodigy and classical pianist Umi Garrett, 11, will be performing live in Bishop Jan. 28 courtesy of the Bishop Community Concert Association, which is celebrating its 67th season this year. Photo courtesy BCCA

An 11-year-old piano prodigy, a John Denver impersonator and an angelic trio of fiddle-playing siblings are some of the offerings to be presented by the Bishop Community Concerts Association during its upcoming, 67th annual season.
The season runs from October to April, with a total of five concerts planned. While the BCCA has always made outreach to local schools a priority â by arranging for visiting musicians to visit Bishop campuses â those efforts have been expanded in 2013-14 to include students in Mono County.
âIn addition to the evening program, three of the performances this season will be enjoyed by students of Bishop High School, Round Valley, Benton, Big Pine, Home Street Middle School, Palisades High School and Seventh Day Adventist School, as well as residents of the Bishop Care Center and Sterling Heights,â said BCCA spokesperson Bev Vander Wall.
According to Vander Wall, each concert this season will be âvery different and each very entertaining for all ages.â
The season will kick off Oct. 22, with the Gothard Sisters, described as a âfierce, fast fiddlingâ trio with a splash of lively step dancing.
According to the Gothard Sisters website, âGreta, Willow and Solana Gothard began classical violin training and competitive Irish dancing at a young age leading them to leadership positions in the local Youth Symphonies and to the Irish dancing World Championships where they competed in the solo category three years in a row.â In 2007, the sisters were on a Seattle-based Irish dance team that placed second at the World Championships in Scotland.
The Gothard Sisters have also developed additional talents on guitar, bodhran and vocals, and their love for music, dance and storytelling is their inspiration for performing and recording.
The next concert, to be held Nov. 6, features John Denver impersonator Ted Vigil.
Vigil is a singer, songwriter and a tribute artist. He was born in Seattle, Wash. and has been performing since he was 10 years old.
In 2006 he went on to Laughlin, Nev. to compete in the Talent Quest 2006, which included performers from 28 states, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. He took first place and went on to win Komo TV 4âs NW Afternoon Celebrity Look Alike contest.
He now performs nationwide.
The next concert will be held Jan. 28 and features 11-year-old classical pianist Umi Garrett who has been described as a âchild prodigy.â
According to her website, Garrett, âhas been skyrocketing into superstardom since her appearance on âThe Ellen DeGeneres Showâ in 2009.â
Receiving requests to perform worldwide, she has appeared with symphony orchestras around the world
For its Feb. 18 performance, the BCCA has booked the Borealis Wind Quintet.
According to its website, the Quintet is a âgroup of musical magiciansâ nominated for a 2006 Chamber Music Grammy Award
The group includes veteran performers Katherine Fink, Tamar Beach Wells, Kathryn Taylor, Dan Culpepper, Wayne Hileman, who perform âthe finest of the classics, engaging commissioned works, opera arias and works for pianos and winds,â on tours that have taken them to major halls throughout the U.S. including Weill Hall (Carnegie) in New York, Princeton, Notre Dame and the Corning Museum in New York.
The final Community Concert performance of the season will be held April 1 and features the Doo Wop act the Alley Cats.
The Alley Cats began at Fullerton College, and landed their first professional gig at Disneylandâs âBlast to the Past.â Soon after, they appeared on TV and radio shows, at performing arts centers, fairs, festivals, schools and even a USO show aboard the John C. Stennis aircraft carrier welcoming home the troops from Iraq. Currently, the Cats are the opening act for Jay Leno in Las Vegas.
These concerts will all be performed at 7:30 p.m. in the Bishop High School Dorothy Joseph Auditorium.Â
According to Vander Wall, âSeason tickets are still one of the best buys in the Eastern Sierra with five concerts priced for adults at $55 and student memberships just 25.âÂ
Family memberships are also available for $125 and include tickets for mom, dad and all children through grade 12.
For tickets at the door, the adult price is $25 and the student price is $10.
âThe purchase of a membership helps cover the cost of these concerts,â Vander Wall said. âThe remaining cost is covered by donors and benefactors committed to keeping the concerts coming.â
For more information on the 67th season or how to make a donation,Â call PresidentÂ Brian Thompson (760) 873-8202.